Gizzy in Heaven!

Gizzy in Heaven!
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Monday, June 21, 2010

A visit with friends


My friend, Sandy, lives in the back part of her family's big Victorian home near Lake Irma.


She also walks early in the morning with her two little Shih-Tzus and we have been meeting up in order to walk and talk together.

She invited us (me and Gizzy) to her place on Sunday morning. She has a nice little garden out back with a small koi pond and various pretty and unusual flowers and plants. Gizzy and I watched her feed the fish who swam right up to her and even let her touch them.






Sandy gave me a tour around her garden and pointed out the various plants and flowers for me. I can't guarantee I remember all their names, but this is a giant hibiscus flower. It was as tall as I.





This variegated ginger lily is just about to bloom. I was fascinated with its beautiful foliage.



These bee balm flowers are almost spent. There's a bee on one of the blossoms towards the bottom, right. Sandy told me that the bees and hummingbirds are very fond of this plant.


Her grandson's dog was trying to make friends with Gizzy through the fence. I was surprised Gizzy didn't bark at him.


These bright pumpkin/orange blossoms are from the blueberry orchid. Sandy explained to me the reason for its name is because after the blossoms are gone, the plant develops little blue berries.



Sandy offered me some for planting around my apartment since she has so many of them.



There's all kinds of little garden statues, bird houses, gnomes and and fairies, but I really liked this guy swinging from a tree.

 

Gizzy's watching us walk through the garden. He's ready to go inside now.



He was even invited to try out one of the doggy beds. Doesn't he look tiny?



Here's a nice group photo of Sandy and her babies.



We had a very enjoyable visit, talking and watching at least ten different kinds of birds flying up to the bird feeders. Sandy knows her birds and pointed out the ones I didn't know. I remember seeing humming birds, a blue jay, housefinch, sparrows, mourning doves, cardinals, a blackbird and a mockingbird. I missed the woodpecker and probably more. I did notice a skink on the porch and Sandy told me about the three little bunnies that stop by in the morning to graze.

To me this was better than watching the Discovery channel on TV, because it was discovering nature right in our own back yard - the best kind!

When it was time to go, Sandy drove us home since it was after 1 pm and too hot to walk.

8 comments:

AkasaWolfSong said...

Oh that sounds like a wonderful way to spend the first half of the day Doris! :) I loved looking at the pictures of course and what a good boy Gizzy is. He's a very patient guy! Sandy has some lovely flowers doesn't she? She'd be a girl after my own heart with the birds and critters in her yard, lol.
Here's hoping a day filled with peace and cool breezes for you and Happy Summer Solstice! :)
Many blessings my friend!

Silke Powers said...

Oh, that looks like so much fun! Her garden is gorgeous. I love the fish and all the flowers. Never heard of the blueberry orchids before... Hope you are having a great Monday!! Love, Silke

A Joyful Chaos said...

Sounds like a wonderful day and the flowers are absolutely gorgeous! Especially the hibiscus.

glor said...

Sounds like such a wonderful, serene day you and to share it with a friend. Just perfect. The pictures are so pretty of the flowers and the fish. Keep cool.

Unknown said...

Doris thank you so much for the wonderful tour of your friends garden. It's so inviting.. I loved the part about the koi pond the most. Although the flowers were amazing. I have to tell you the Grizzy is so darn adorable in his Clifford Sunnies :)
Hugs
M

Simply Debbie said...

HELLO DORIS,
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE SANDY LIVES IN. I LOVE VICTORIAN HOMES BUT THEY COST SO MUCH TO MAINTAIN.
I LOVE HER POND...DID SHE BUILD IT HERSELF....WE NEED TO BUILD A POND BEFORE FALL AS OUR LITTLE HALF WHISKEY BARREL POND IS TOO SMALL FOR OUR FISH.
YOU TAKE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS.
I LOVE THE BIRDS SO MUCH AND WOULD ENJOY GOING ON THAT MORNING WALK WITH YOU AND GIZZY. I LOVE HIM IN HIS RED SUNGLASSES IN THE PREVIOUS POST.
I AM GLAD YOU SPENT SUCH A WONDERFUL DAY WITH SANDY AND HER FLOWERS ARE GORGEOUS. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE BLUEBERRY ORCHIDS...I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK...STAY COOL
HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE

Erika said...

Hallo Doris...sounds like you just had a wonderful time visiting with your friend, her dogs and her gorgeous garden. From the lovely pictures I can see why. There is nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than a garden filled with beautiful flowers and nature itself. Her house is also one I would really enjoy, as it is one of my favorite kind of home in the US and I have always dreamed of living in one or maybe even restoring one.

Until soon again...Tschuess....Erika

Samantha G said...

Ohh such beautiful pictures and what a fun visit! I just love, love, LOVE Sandy's green room in the house!! I want to keep that in mind since I am house hunting now and can soon paint things whatever color I like :)

We had similar red hibiscus flowers in Maryland in our garden. If they are the same as the ones I had, it's a type of Mallow that's actually called a Marsh Mallow (go figure) and the flowers on them were as big as dinner plates. I look forward to having more of them one day- they are gorgeous!